Ditching-machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. & B. HOLMES. v

Ditching Machine.

No. 18,398. Patented Oct. 13, 1857.

llllllllmiii "Ill 2 SheetsSheet 2.

E. & B. HOLMES- Ditching Machine. No. 18,398. Patented Oct. 13, 1857.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD HOLMES AND BRITAIN HOLMES, OF BUFFALO, NIMV YORK.

DITCHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,398, dated October 13, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we. Enwann Homrns and BRITAIN I'IOLMES, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Ditching and Making Earth Fences; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure I, is a plan of the machine; Fig. II, a longitudinal elevation; Fig. III, a rear end view; Fig. IV, driving pulley which carries the elevating belt; Fig. V, section of driving chain and elevating belt; Fig. VI, views of the adjustable side cutters of the plow.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

A, (Fig. I) is a clevis to which the tractive force is applied; B, plow beam; G, graduating lever, which is connected to the plow beam and also to a small wheel under the plow beam, for the purpose of graduating the depth of cut. D, as seen in this figure, represents the horizontal cutting blade of the plow; E, expanding side cutters of the plow. These are made adjustable in a lateral direction, for the purpose of increasing the width of the ditch, and for the purpose of making the ditch wider, at the top than at the bottom. lVe also contemplate, setting these cutters upon an angle, so as to make the sides of the ditch sloping. G, drivers seat; H, compressing belt, for the purpose of preventing the earth from slipping olf from the elevating belt; J J, arms, or frame which holds the pulley (r r) at the lower end next to the plow. This pulley should be dropped down within the side pieces of the plow near to the expanding cutters so as to aid in carrying the dirt up the apron of the plow. I, upper and driving pulley of the compressing belt; K K, standards, which support the pulley I; L, stationary frame which supports the driving pulley and a series of friction rollers for the elevating belt; M, main frame of the machine; N, main supporting wheels; P, miter wheel on shaft V; P miter wheel on upright shaft X Y; O, bevel wheel on main or driving wheel N. This meshes in with another smaller bevel wheel on the upright shaft X Y. It is through this series of wheels that motion is communicated to the shaft V, and driving pulley G. S, horizontal conveyer, which receives the dirt from the elevating belt, and carries it off, to make the embankment or fence. This conveyer may be run in either direction, so as to deposit the earth on either side of the machine as may be desired. m t, large or driving pulley, for the conveyer; n y, small pulley at opposite end. T, frame, which supports the horizontal conveyer; u, knife or scraper for the purpose of scraping the dirt from the elevating belt, and causing it to drop on to the conveyer at or near the middle thereof; It, grooved pulley on end of shaft V; R r, grooved pulley on same shaft with the driving pulley t) of the conveyer. By reversing the band or cord which connects these two pulleys the conveyer may be run in either direction. Cogwheels may be used instead of these pulleys. Y, is'the driving pulley of the elevating belt. This is upon the shaft V, and receives its motion through the series of gear wheels already described; V, shaft.

Fig. II: D, horizontal cutting blade of the plow; b, the dotted line 6 represents the mold board or elevating apron of the plow. As the earth is cut and loosened by the cut ting blade D, and the side cutters IE, it is forced up this elevating apron by the onward movement of the plow until it is taken by the compressing belt H and the elevating belt, A a, by which it is carried up, and dropped upon the horizontal conveyer (S). A a, elevating belt. The lower roller around which this belt revolves is placed between the side pieces of the plow so that the belt will lightly press against the under sides of the apron. The belt will then receive the dirt from the apron, and together with the.

compressing belt carry it up to the trans verse conveyer. E, expanding side cutters; 6, joints or hinges by which the expanding cutters are connected to the side pieces of the plow; D (1, side pieces of the plow; f, king bolt, which connects the plow to the main frame. This bolt is the only fastening which the plow has to the main frame, and

it operates as a flexible joint, and. allows the plow to turn as much as may be desired, either right or left. It also allows a slight movement of the plow, up and down. This gives sufficient flexibility between the plow and main frame for all the purposes required. g, stirrup, which connects the wheel p, to the graduating lever c; g, gear wheel.

This wheel is at the end of pulley G, and on the same shaft. It drives the wheel Q, r, and the compressing belt H. When the machine is at work the elevating belt A a, and the compressing belt H, move in the same directions. Consequently, the compressing belt will assist in carrying up the dirt. It will also serve to prevent the dirt from sliding back on to the plow, and from slipping off at the sides. against the dirt slipping back or sliding off at the sides, we contemplate using side pieces on the elevating belt. WVe also contemplate using teeth or pins in the compressing belt, which will catch into and hold and draw the dirt up. We also contemplate using (in certain cases) the compressing belt, with teeth or pins therein, in connection with an inclined plane or stationary trough, (instead of the elevating belt,) so that the teeth or pins will hold on to the dirt and slide it up the trough. These teeth or pins are represented at 123, Fig. 11. m, arm which connects the cutters E to the slide N S, by the arrangement of which the cutters E, may be expanded and contracted at pleasure.

Fig. III: t It, supports to conveyer belt; a, journal cap to the axle of the main wheels N; w, axle of main wheels; g a, movable supports to the lower end of the upright shaft. dotted lines m '1, and supports the bevel pinion O and the miter wheel P 0 7L, friction rollers which serve to support the conveyer belt; N s (Fig. 11,) slide which is fitted on to the plow beam, and to which the arm X is connected. As the slide is moved on the plow beam the side cutters will be ex panded or contracted.

Fig. IV: This figure represents the main driving pulley for the elevating belt. Y, pulley; V, shaft; 1, pins or cogs on which the endless chain from the elevating belt runs.

Fig. V represents a section of the elevating belt and endless chain connected therewith. A a, elevating belts; n g, endless chain. This chain is connected to the belt and takes the propelling power from the driving pulley. The links are spaced oil,

so as to mesh with the cogs on the driving pulley. A groove is cut in the pulley, sufficiently deep to receive the chain, so that the chain will not rise above the face of the As a further safeguard This shaft is represented by the" pulley. The cogs are placed in this groove. Corresponding grooves are also made in the friction rollers g (Fig. II). lVe also contemplate making the grooves concave and allow the elevating belt to conform to the concavity of the grooves, so as to prevent the dirt from slipping ofi at the sides. Chains should also be connected in a similar manner with the compressing belt H and the conveyer belt 8. A chain will be needed in all cases in connection with these belts.

Fig. VI: E 0, cross arm, which connects X to E. E e and X are jointed at d. E is a horizontal projection of the expanding side cutters of the plow, which overlaps the blade D, as represented by the dotted lines E Fig. I. The plow is composed of several parts or distinct pieces, to wit: The horizontal cutting blade D, the expanding side cutters E, the side pieces D d, and the elevating apron 7). These parts may be cast separably and fitted together by ordinary mechanical means, or the several parts may be made of wrought iron and steel.

All the parts herein referred to may be constructed according to common and well known mechanical methods.

Having now fully set forth our improvements in connection with parts which are old, what we claim as new with respect to the plow, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is r 1. The horizontal blade D, the expanding side cutters D, and elevating apron I), when arranged and operating together substantially as herein set forth.

2. Vl e claim the combination of the elevating belt A a, and compressing belt H, (or equivalents) with the elevating apron b, for the purpose of taking the dirt from the apron, and continuing its passage up, until dropped on to the horizontal conveyer substantially as herein set forth.

3. We also claim the scraper W, for the purpose of scraping the dirt from the elevating belt, any going its direction, so that it will fall upon the transverse conveyer, substantially as herein described.

EDXVARD HOLMES. BRITAIN HOLMES.

lVitnesses E. B. FoRBUsH, H. Fomsusn. 

